Hong Kong Sun Yat-sen Museum is now exhibiting “A Sketch of Soong Ching Ling and Her Artefacts” to help enhance the understanding of the people in Hong Kong of the story of the lady who was born in a Christian family, practiced Christianity, and married to her Christian husband Sun Yat-sen.
Born in a traditional Christian family, Soong Ching Ling was married to Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the father of modern China and a known Christian. Soong’s mother was from a Christian family tree and also a descendent of Xu Guangqi, three pillars of Catholicism in China. Her father was a well-known missionary and the first Chinese delegate to participate in the U.S. Methodists meetings held in China.
According to records, Soong’s family had a strong religious ambience; her mother would hold daily family prayers and her parents send their children to church schools to receive education of religious culture. Soong attended church gatherings since she was young. At a later time, despite her parent’s opposition, she got married with Christian Sun Yat-sen in Japan and then walked together on the path of revolution. Some thinks that her spirit of sacrificing herself for the revolution was a direct influence of the teachings of Christianity of sacrificing oneself for love.
After marriage, Soong’s faith was influenced by Sun Yat-sen. When Sun was involved in the revolution, he was afraid of affecting the church so he never went back to the church to attend services so Soong as a result also stopped attending church services. At that time, the missionaries felt that they have abandoned their faith. However, the couple still remained as Christians. At the later time of her life, Soong expressed that Christian doctrines had a very big influence upon her.
“A Sketch of Soong Ching Ling and Her Artefacts” has been exhibiting since March 19 in the Hong Kong Sun Yat-sen Museum.
